Washington Walks' 'Get Local' excursions explore D.C. neighborhood

You've probably heard the complaint: Neighborhoods don't have that neighborhood feel anymore. In some mythic bygone era, people sat on their front stoops, chatted breezily with those who lived two doors down, watched one another's children grow up.

Local tour company Washington Walks is bringing back a community feeling with weekend "Get Local" excursions into the District's neighborhoods. The tours are more than just sightseeing; they offer a chance to understand the culture of the city.

"I think you can really learn about the history of Washington by touring its different neighborhoods," said tour guide Terry Cordaro, who recently led a tour of the Eastern Market area.

Stops on the Eastern Market tour include buildings and sites that don't necessarily herald their history, including the red-brick Ebenezer United Methodist Church, the first African American church in the area, and a childhood home of aviator Charles Lindbergh. Other spots are hard to miss, including Lincoln Park. But even in such well-known places, Cordaro offered small bits of history, noting the face of the slave being freed in the Emancipation Memorial was modeled after Archer Alexander, the last slave to be freed.

Even the area's trees got some consideration. While walking down D Street, Cordaro paused to point out that the wrinkled trunks all appear the same age. Cordaro explained that the trees were planted as an attempt to liven up the neighborhood in the 1870s by D.C. governor Alexander "Boss" Shepherd.

The tour offers an introductory lesson on dating area architecture by looking at balconies, porches and window coverings. With about a dozen people, from teenagers to those past retirement age, hovering around Cordaro to catch every word, you could easily mistake this for another group of tourists. Yet all but one were locals. Greg and Beth Subero, who recently moved to Eastern Market, took the tour to learn more about their new neighborhood. They found that it hit even closer to home than they expected.

"We learned about the very architecture of our own house," Greg Subero said. The couple plans to lead friends and family on the tour when they come to visit.

-- Kristen Boghosian

WHERE AND WHEN IS IT? Tour locations vary, but upcoming neighborhoods include Mount Pleasant (Saturday and Aug. 8), Eastern Market (Sunday), and Kalorama (Aug. 7). Tours meet outside at a set location (usually outside a Metro stop) and guides can be recognized by a blue and green badge. Saturday tours leave at 11 a.m. and Sunday tours depart at 3 p.m., rain or shine.

HOW MUCH WILL I WALK? The tours last about two hours. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes.

HOW MUCH IS IT? Most tours cost $15, but some are $20 to include other admission costs. Kids 3 and younger are free, and students with an ID get a $5 discount. Make reservations online, or pay cash before the tour begins. Several tours are also available for free during Walkingtown DC weekend, Sept. 25-26.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call Washington Walks at 202-484-1565 or http://www.washingtonwalks.com.